An aging detector for an electrical circuit component and a method for monitoring an aging of a circuit component includes an input of the aging detector recording a parameter of the circuit component, with the aging circuit being configured to, based on the recorded parameter, determine a corresponding response threshold and/or a response or adapt the response threshold and/or the response, and to initiate the response to the parameter exceeding the specific response threshold.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An aging detector, comprising: at least one input for recording an aging specific parameter of a circuit component; wherein the aging detector is for use with an evaluation unit and is configured to perform the following: based on the recorded aging specific parameter, at least one of determining and adapting at least one of a corresponding response and a corresponding response threshold of the response; and initiating the response responsive to the recorded parameter exceeding the response threshold; wherein a type of the response is defined or adapted at adaptation time points, wherein the aging specific parameter includes a measurement curve, wherein the evaluation unit communicates bi-directionally with the aging detector, and wherein the evaluation unit communicates bi-directionally with a control device.
2. The aging detector of claim 1 , wherein the recorded parameter is at least one of a frequency and a duration of a component-critical application of the circuit component.
3. The aging detector of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one output, wherein the detector is configured to apply a voltage to the at least one output and to record an electrical resistance or a threshold voltage drift in response to the application of the voltage.
4. The aging detector of claim 3 , wherein, based on the electrical resistance, the detector is configured to monitor an electro-migration of a metal oxide semiconductor transistor (MOS transistor) induced by a negative bias voltage.
5. The aging detector of claim 3 , wherein, based on the threshold voltage drift, the detector is configured to monitor a temperature instability effect (NBTI effect) of a metal oxide semiconductor transistor (MOS transistor) induced by a negative bias voltage.
6. A method for monitoring an aging of an electrical circuit component, the method comprising: determining, via an aging detector, at least one aging specific parameter; based on the recorded aging specific parameter, at least one of determining and adapting, via the aging detector, at least one of a corresponding response and a corresponding response threshold of the response; and initiating the response responsive to the recorded parameter exceeding the response threshold; wherein a type of the response is defined or adapted at adaptation time points, wherein the aging specific parameter includes a measurement curve, wherein an evaluation unit communicates bi-directionally with the aging detector, and wherein the evaluation unit communicates bi-directionally with a control device.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: recording manufacturing data when manufacturing the circuit component and using the manufacturing data to adapt at least one of the response threshold and the response.
8. A system, comprising: a circuit component; and a plurality of aging detectors; and an evaluation unit, which communicates bi-directionally with each of the aging detectors; wherein each of the aging detectors includes at least one input for recording an aging specific parameter of a circuit component, wherein the aging detector is configured to perform the following: based on the recorded aging specific parameter, at least one of determining and adapting at least one of a corresponding response and a corresponding response threshold of the response; and initiating the response responsive to the recorded parameter exceeding the response threshold; wherein a type of the response is defined or adapted at adaptation time points, and wherein the aging specific parameter includes a measurement curve, and wherein the evaluation unit communicates bi-directionally with a control device.
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January 18, 2017
November 16, 2021
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